Third-Choice Splendora Out of Breeders' Cup Distaff

The Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) lost a big chunk of its early speed Oct. 29 with the announcement that B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) winner Splendora will be scratched from the race. The Bob Baffert-trained Audible mare had won five of her six 2026 starts, including a front-running score in the Locust Grove Stakes (G2) in her last try. Splendora was the 9-2 third choice and the withdrawals of her and Scottish Lassie (15-1) Oct. 28 reduce the field to seven for the 1 1/8-mile stakes Oct. 31 at Keeneland and make the race even more of a showdown between the two favorites, Nitrogen (6-5) and Fully Subscribed (8-5). Also on Saturday's card, Praying (30-1) was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). On the Oct. 30 program, Thursday's scratches include Earth Song (20-1) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), leaving a field of six after Wednesday's scratch of Gaudreau; and Serenas Ghost (20-1) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). The defection of Serenas Ghost will allow Luminous Beauty, who was third against males in the Futurity Stakes (G3T), to move in off the also-eligible list and run in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.